Go-kart racing triumph

A CATTERLINE man has triumphed in a Go-Kart competition with his own homemade kart – and will now battle it out at the Grand Final to be crowned overall winner.

Taking home first place in the Adult category, Stephen Hall proved victorious at the Cumbria heat of the Screwfix Go-Kart Rally, which was held at the Surf the Turf outdoor activities centre in Sedgwick.

Stephen is an IT Manager and a real Karting enthusiast, even heading up the Scottish Cartie Association as Chairman.

The 46-year-old took to the grass hill track on September 3, battling against other racers to record the fastest time despite treacherous conditions, and now has made it to the Grand Final of the Go-Kart Rally competition, in association with Peugeot and power tool brand Evolution.

Even though pro Stephen races nearly every weekend, he said the Go Kart Rally had its own challenges: “I normally race on tarmac and today’s course is shorter, slower, and more technical. I’ve brought along my oldest kart which has more grip to cope with the wet conditions and I’m really glad I made that choice – it went really well!”

The competition required entrants to design and build, or modify, their own gravity-powered go-karts, with the aim of getting through to the Grand Final at the International Rally Championship in October. In addition to racing in the Grand Final, Stephen will also get complimentary tickets to watch the IRC rally and an exclusive Race Day with Peugeot UK Rally Driver Guy Wilks.

Stephen said: “I was really happy with my time on the day – just under 30 seconds in my last two runs, so it definitely went well!”